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Holiday flat in the House of Mustafa

The house of Mustafa is located on Elephantine Island, with an undisturbed view across the Nile to Aga Khan and the Monastery of Simeon (see top picture middle: view from terrace). In Autumn 2008 Cico, Mustafa's brother, put a second floor on top of his house, the terrace is now higher than before (see pictures below). There is a neighbor on the left, behind the house is a big garden.

To get inside, you have to cross the first lockable door (to the left are the third room and a 2nd toilet with shower - usually used by Mustafa and not for rent); then there is a second door with lock, to enter the flat itself: with a big bathroom and kitchen and 2 rooms with 2 beds each. Towels and blankets are provided. (Advice: In december and january I bring my downy feather sleeping bag anyway, because for me blankets are not enough). More pictures please see here ..., they can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Comments from our guestbook:

.... renting his flat was the best thing we did (4days out of 29 in Egypt), completely personal, clean, and with million dollar views from the rooftop who could ask for more. Mustafa's mother and sister were amazing, the food was some of the best we had on our whole trip and everything done for a fair and reasonable price. I will be back for sure, no question about it ... (Leanne, Australia)


.... We stayed in Mustafa’s house on Elephantine Island, which was not only very good value, but also very authentic. We felt privileged to gain insight into the daily life of a Nubian Village and it s inhabitants. We were served the most wonderful meals by Mustafa’s mum Sahara and his sister Fattimah, and later on by Mustafa himself on the Felucca. Highlights of the trip were the outings with Mustafa and Mushawi on the felucca- we felt like princesses being taken on these private trips- everything was done to make sure we enjoyed ourselves – all that for a very acceptable and honest price! (... all of her letter please see our guestbook) All the best, Agnes (Scotland)

Whilst travelling around Egypt in January I enjoyed a 5 day stay on the fascinating and beautiful island of Elephantine situated on the River Nile close to Aswan.
My congenial host was a Nubian gentleman by the name of Mostafa who provided basic, but very clean accommodation in his own home on the edge of one of the 2 fascinating Nubian villages on the island. The facilities and excellent breakfasts provided were very good value. Mostafa and his family always took great care and pride in the preparation of local cuisine for their guests and were able to supply comprehensive and delicious evening meals as and when required.
The property included an amazing upstairs terrace with uninterrupted and romantic views of the river and the passing feluccas, pleasure and working boats. St Simeon's Monastery and the Tombs of the Nobles on the west bank could also be clearly viewed.
A felucca would be on hand for pre-planned or ad-hoc river trips whether for one hour or a full day s excursion with picnic. All trips are tailored to client s specific needs.
Mostafa was always there to answer any enquiries and to offer localised knowledge and friendly help and suggestions with regard to excursions both in and around Aswan.
All in all a highly enjoyable and memorable stay in this unique, beautiful and tranquil location. Thoroughly recommended.
Andy (South Wales)

03-01-2009 (posted in tripadvisor)
We just spent a wonderful week at Aswan, thanks to Petra and Mustafa.
We don't like "packaged" holidays, we always try to find an alternative way of traveling that suits our style. Its not always easy to achieve that, especially when traveling abroad. In this case we were lucky to run into the aswan individual website, and realize that it was compiled by somebody who truly loved and respected Nubians and their culture. We contacted Mustafa and booked his lovely house, with the wonderful view and unique location. After living there for a week, we feel we spent time with a long known friend.
Simos Saltiel and family (Greece)

The reception in the house of Mustafa from him, his familiy and especially his mother, was very very warm. His mother has coddled us with fantastic meals in different variations, with the result that we have felt wonderful.
We have been affiliated with the family and learned a lot about traditions of Nubian life on the island Elephantine. Günter Löschner (Stuttgart, Germany)

In early summer I was in Aswan with three friends and we stayed in the house of Mustafa. Fantastically looked after by his mother and sister.
They have cooked for us excellently, and served, and washed our laundry.
We were enthusiastic about the care from Mustafa, his mother, sister, his brothers and his friends - we have been absorbed in the family.
The trips with the felucca or the motorboat had been beautiful.
Our vacation was outright successful, and aswan-indivudal.com is highly recommended! Ursula Steinborn (Berlin, Germany)

Nov 10, 2009.
.. We moored below the ruins of Yabu and Mustafa walked us through the village and proudly showed us his house and holiday flat -- very spacious, attractive Nubian decor, with a great view from the roof, across the river to the Mausoleum and St Simeon's Monastery on the skyline, every bit as good as the much more expensive Nile view from the Movenpick. Would we recommend it to our son who likes his holidays unpackaged? Most certainly, yes! Mustafa then led us along the irrigation streams, through the narrow streets, the shady fruit trees and vegetable fields, and back to the Movenpick through the gap used by the village goats. (Martin Beavis, UK)

Dec 7, 2009
The position and living in the village is really enjoyable.
It is obviously been set up with European tourists in mind which is good.
The mattresses are very hard. They are more uncomfortable than the thin airbeds you use hiking or the foam mattresses on the feluccas. Likewise the pillows are rock hard and do not resemble pillows as we know them. (Susan & Noel)

Jan 23, 2010
Hi Petra, just a word of thanks for a wonderful stay in Aswan: Mustafa's house made for a very special experience as did his Felucca. Now we are back home it seems more special than ever. I'll recommend anyone going there to your web site.
Regards and thanks again. Simon, Yuki, Riu and Kai

Jan 21, 2010
After settling into his humble home on the Nile where the roof top view is breathtaking..better than any 5 star hotel in Aswan, we took a lovely tour of the small streets on the Elephantine Island. We had both lunch and dinner at his mothers house and a wonderful breakfast on the roof.
The next day we were treated like royalty..or rather Cleopatra..on The Love Boat, Mustafa's felucca. We stopped on a desert beach where the kids all rode a camel and I felt like I was in Lawrence of Arabia. (...) Christine

Feb 22, 2010
Hello Petra, We are back from Aswan now and I want to tell you about our visit... especially because when you phoned, we had just had a sleepless night and were not so happy! By closing both our room door and the little window into the kitchen during the day, we solved the mosquito problem the next night, and we were so tired by then that the clanking and varying noises of the fan didn't wake us, so after that night we slept fine. Mustafa left a good store of food for us (fruit, bread, cheese, jam, butter, etc.) so we fixed our own breakfasts and lunches from that, and that was fine; we paid him LE 135 for that before we left, the amount he asked, which seemed quite fair.
Mustafa was a very kind and attentive host, and we enjoyed his company, and the very interesting tour of the village. It was very very hot while we were there, and we took felucca trips with him two afternoons, 5 hours total, and they were wonderful, (...)

All in all we are glad that we made the decision to stay at Mustafa's place. It really was a unique opportunity to stay away from the tourists in the village, and to meet a kind and admirable man. (...) The most important thing about staying there was not the house, it was Mustafa. His dignity and welcome -- without ever being intrusive -- is the very best thing about staying there. His tour of the village was great, very enlightening. And of course we loved sailing with him. So please tell him those things too and not just the cats and kitchen drawers and the mosquitoes! Judy

 

 

 

225 EGP each night for 2-room-flat as shown above

or: "Flat-Sharing":
if you are 1 or 2 you can rent one bedroom only and share kitchen and bathroom with Mustafa or another guest:
1 person: 120 EGP
2 persons: 150 EGP

If you want your laundry washed:
30 EGP each washing)

Breakfast, lunch, dinner can be provided by the mother and sister of Mustafa and brought to your flat

30 EGP each person each breakfast.

Lunch / dinner
(including tea):

40 EGP each person if for 3 pers. or more,
if you are 2 persons 50 EGP each,
if its only for one person: 60 EGP.

 

 

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